Accomplishments in public health and technology have created growth in the healthcare industry. Significant advances in prevention as well as declining mortality rates have created the need for a more sophisticated record-keeping system. While monitoring the health of the nation, it is now more important than ever to plan and develop better health services and deliver effective and efficient care. The need to manage patient data has also increased. Moving from a world where paper records are kept in filing cabinets to implementing a system where documents are stored and maintained on computers and accessed through EMR systems is a complicated procedure for a large system, without talk about the small independent practices that still exist. This article will discuss how small, independent practices manage the implementation, data control, and maintenance of electronic medical records. which has helped protect the health insurance coverage of workers and their families when they change or lose their jobs, as well as providing guidelines for policies and procedures to help maintain confidentiality and security of individually identifiable health information such as medical records (EMR mandate 2014). , 2012). In 2011, the federal government required medical facilities and practices to begin the process of transferring current traditional medical records to electronic medical records (EMR Mandate 2014, 2012). Over the next five years or so, all facilities must make significant progress in transitioning to electronic systems (EMR Mandate 2014, 2012). Implement ...... middle of document ......se and health information exchange. Retrieved from http://www.healthit.gov/sites/default/files/rtc_adoption_of_healthit_and_ratedefforts.pdfOuellette, P. (nd). EHR Best Practices: EHR Training for Independent Physicians. EHRintelligencecom Accessed March 27, 2014, from http://ehrintelligence.com/2012/06/26/ehr-best-practices-ehr-training-for-independent-physicians/ Taye, M. (February 9, 2012). OpEdNews - Article: How changes in medical technology affect health care costs. Opednews.com Progressive and liberal US and international news, views, opinion pieces and politics. Retrieved March 24, 2014 from http://www.opednews.com/articles/How-Changes-in-Medical-Tec-by-Matthew-Tae-090209-748.html Vetter, D. (2013). Guardians of our own health care. The growth of web-based health records offers enormous benefits to consumers. Health Management Technology, 34(8), 14.